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Lake Padden Park

4.6 (54 reviews)
Closed 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Lake Padden Park Photos

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Gorgeous views with benches all around the lake to enjoy
Megan D.

My family of 4 really enjoyed our walk around Lake Padden, it took us about an hour. It's a 2.6 mile loop around the lake. You can find more trail details on the AllTrails app under Lake Padden Singletrack. Well maintained trail with gorgeous views, there is several great fishing spots and benches to sit and rest all around the lake. Definitely recommend exploring Lake Padden Park when in the area.

Andrea H.

This is a wonderful little gem within a very short driving distance from town. Even on busy summer weekends, I didn't have trouble finding parking, but I always came late in the day since the summer sun doesn't set until around 9pm. If you come earlier in the day, parking might be an issue. I surmise this based on the number of cars parked along the main highway just outside the park. On the plus side, parking is free and so is the park! There is a dirt and gravel trail that loops along the shore of the lake. It is mostly flat and quite easy to walk or run. There are people on all parts of the trail, so I felt safe walking alone, but I never felt like it was too crowded to enjoy. Along the way, you will see small cut outs that give you access to the water. People can be found swimming, fishing, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding (SUP). On the shore, there are occasional grassy fields where people will be sunbathing and enjoying BBQ with friends and family. There is a softball field and even a section of trail offshoot from the main loop that allows dogs off leash. Restroom facilities can be found in at least two different areas. Park benches are sporadically placed throughout the trail so you can relax and enjoy the lake views.

Valerie D.

Love this park with good walkable trails. Spent 2 hrs on the trail walking around the lake. Enjoyed it very much. Great place since they have nice places to have a picnic with grills to use. Nice playground for kids, dog area for your fur friends. Trail around lake is just enough to walk without getting tired.

Monica R.

One of the best in Bellingham! I have visited several times for walking, picnics, parties in their spacious pavilions. And, an epic Yelp event with fellow foodie friends on a beautiful evening, featuring a gourmet hot dog bar! Was that just a run-on sentence? Feels like one, anywhoooo my editor has the day off :-) If you come, make a day of it as there is plenty to see and do. You'll find families, pets, BBQ pits, picnic tables, grassy areas to spread a blanket and relax by yourself or meet friends. Plentiful walking and hiking trails here as well for all levels. Enjoy this beautiful park, swim at your own risk though, no life guards on duty.

Karyn S.

Lake Padden is my "go-to" place for a trail run or walk. It's a 2.6 mile loop around the lake, and always enjoy it here. The park offers so much for families and people of every age from; tennis courts, basketball courts, off-leash dog park area, bathrooms and showers, picnic areas, benches around the park for breaks to take in the view, and are almost always greeted by the friendly ducks asking for snacks. Many people enjoy fishing, kayaking, floating or sunbathing and is a popular place when the sun shows itself! I also love the driving range and golf course. It's just a perfect setting and a great place close by to enjoy!

Smitcha B.

Why doesn't Lake Padden Golf have its own Yelp page? No clue. I attempted to create one with pictures from the golf course and everything but Yelp decided to mesh it back under Lake Padden Park. So folks, this review is on Lake Padden GOLF only. I got to play Lake Padden Golf Course on 07/19/17 around 2pm for twilight. The weekday twilight green fee was $26.68. Seeing that I just played a round earlier that morning elsewhere and this would be the second round of golf within the same day, I decided to get the 18 holes (power) cart. Let's just say, it costs more to rent one of these suckers as compared to just walking/playing the course; $31.28. That's $15.64 per person for two riders. The golf course itself is quite nice and scenic especially for a Southern Californian boy like myself. 150+ ft high trees, endless rows of towering thick trees, you just get the feeling that you are playing in Smokey the Bear's backyard. The conditions of the golf course was near perfect and we did have a nice and sunny day to enjoy. I hope you are decent with your irons because hitting into the woods will not be fun. The trees are dense, dark, and you'll have this random urge that an orc is lurking behind one of them trees. We did see a nice deer frolicking alongside us on one of the holes. Being able to hit long with your clubs is an advantage. However, it will do you no good if you can't control your shots. You can get away with a decent score if you hit it short and straight here. This is what I meant when I said being good with your irons. I found myself teeing off more with my long irons than the "big stick." The course itself doesn't run too long even playing from the tips. I suggest playing it sweet and safe even as boring as that may sound. My only quarrel with Lake Padden Golf course? #1 the rental fee for the driving cart for 18 holes and second, you NEVER see the actual Lake Padden Lake. I guess it's a good thing because that prevents any errant shots towards the public hanging about the lake area. All in all, it was a nice scenic course with more than enough trees to look at. Hearing the cracking sound of a golf ball smacking into bark is quite common here. Just think of it as a shield wall of some sort. Happy hacking and don't forget to fix your divots!

Stacy G.

Who doesn't like this spot ....??!! It's the reason I moved to the Ham! Great park with lots of trails and dog friendly areas along with off leash - my favorite spot for sure!

Padden off leash trail
Robert C.

Great off leash trail that loops back behind the dog park. Great work out for both you and your pup. I haven't had any problems with people or dogs but be warned there are horses early in the morning (my hound-lab mix is scared of horses and is the only time she will bay like a hound) highly recommend this trail. Dog park is rather large and fenced. Also has a separate small dog park attached. Is dirt and grass so be prepared for mud during the rainy months.

Padden @ sunset
Cami G.

Ok. No need to be poetic here. It's a lake. It's nestled in the beautiful hills of Whatcom county. It's surrounded by luscious green forests, trails, and is just a mile from town. In the summer you will find dozens of people enjoying the water; swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and even fishing... but only in early spring. As the previous poster mentioned, there is an off-leash dog trail and a large fenced park for dogs of all kinds. And their owners but only if they behave. There are two bathrooms on opposite sides of the lake, one of which has showers. The large softball fields situated on the east side of the lake are nice but difficult for use due to the fact that the soil surrounding the lake is rather wet and swampy. Hard to slide into home when you get stuck in the mud. Lake Padden is absolutely stunning... running or walking around the 2.7-mile loop is my favorite activity and I'm always finding hidden trails up and around the mountain.

Walking around the lake, on a rainy day.
Kathryn N.

I have moved away from Bellingham, and this is one of the places I miss the most. Great Off leash dog park and dog trails! Great lake for fishing! Beautiful trails for walking/running, (even pushing a stroller) Clean Bathrooms, and a few of them. Super Beautiful anytime of the year.

Hole 1
Ernest J.

Lake Padden Golf course not listed? Played Monday. Nice track, but wet today. Cart path only! Greens were sanded recently, so they played extra slow today! Still I would play it again! Just wish I would have shot better! Shot 101!

Frank B.

Place is fantastic. I'm here on business and was looking for a nice, safe, scenic area to exercise. Look no further. 2.6 mike loop was perfect

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Ask the Community - Lake Padden Park

Review Highlights - Lake Padden Park

This was the first golf course I played in Whatcom county when I moved here from California.

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Avalon Golf Links

Avalon Golf Links

3.9(21 reviews)
13.2 mi

I can't begin to count how many times I've come to this course during their posted driving range…read morehours, only to be told that the range is closing early, or already closed. On multiple occasions this has happened well over two hours before the hours listed online and on the sign at the front door which clearly says "driving range closes at 4pm". It's incredibly frustrating to drive 20 minutes one way expecting the range to be open, only to find out otherwise. The lack of consistency is disappointing and reflects poor customer service. If hours are going to change regularly, they need to be updated accurately so customers aren't wasting their time.

Played Avalon this weekend. Had really nice weather for the first week of October. The course is in…read moregood shape. They have 27 holes and we played the North & South nines. Course is nothing fancy and it's pretty short (I want to say 2,700-2,800 yards from the whites for each of the nines we played). The beverage cart came through five or six times, which is probably the most I've ever experienced. The beers were cheap - $2 for a 12 oz Rainier and $4 for a 12 oz Bodhizafa. I used my prepaid round through the Around the Sound golf pass, so I don't know what the green fees are. The staff we encountered were all friendly - pro shop, starter, beverage cart, marshal. One thing I really liked was that they had a "warm up" bucket for the driving range. For most courses, the smallest bucket has 40-50 balls, but the "warm up" bucket had about 20, which is perfect if I want to shake off the morning rust. I don't need to hit fifty balls before my round, so it was nice to not have to pay for a larger bucket. It's definitely a course I'd play again if I were in the area.

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Avalon Golf Links
Avalon Golf Links
Avalon Golf Links - Beautiful course, well kept, natural environment.

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Beautiful course, well kept, natural environment.

Lake Padden Park - golf - Updated May 2026

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